Engineering Commons^™

Manual For Thin Asphalt Overlays, Lerose Lane, R. Gary Hicks, Dingxin Cheng, Erik Updyke

Mineta Transportation Institute

This manual presents best practices on project selection, mix design, and construction to ensure a superior product when constructing thin asphalt overlays. Experience shows these treatments provide excellent performance when placed on pavements in fair to good condition using proper construction techniques. Though sometime referred to by other names, thin asphalt overlays have been widely used for pavement preservation throughout the world for over 50 years.

Limited infrastructure funding at the local, state, and federal levels has resulted in greater emphasis on the use of pavement preservation techniques to extend pavement life and reduce maintenance costs. Thin asphalt overlays are …

Combined Numerical And Experimental Determination Of Ball Bearing Capacitances For Bearing Current Prediction, Peng Han, Greg Heins, Dean Patterson, Mark Theile, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

High-frequency voltages across the steel ball bearings and the corresponding currents can cause premature bearing failures in electric machines driven by PWM converters. The bearing voltage, one of the most commonly-used failure indicators, depends heavily on the bearing capacitance. This paper presents a combined numerical and experimental approach for the calculation of ball bearing capacitances to address the uncertainty introduced by lubricant property, lubrication status and other metal parts, such as seals and ball retainers. Based on the obtained capacitance breakdown, the influences of temperature, speed and bearing load (radial, axial or combined) on the capacitance are studied. Measurements and …

New Glass Ceramics Are Taken According To The Recipe - Fly Ash, Feni Slag And Glass Waste, University For Business And Technology - Ubt

UBT International Conference

In this study we will present the data from the preliminary preparation of the mixture - the recipe for fly ash which is released from the burning of lignite, ferronickel slag and glass waste as well as the results from the validation of the validity of these constituents according to the previously designed reports. Glass- ceramics are polycrystalline materials produced through the so-called "controlled crystallization process" and share many features between ceramics and glass. It consists of an amorphous phase and one or more glass phases. The whole process of producing these materials passes through the "glass crystallization control", and …

Typological Classification Of Existing Masonry Structures In Debar, Gostivar And Kicevo -North Macedonia, Yasemin Hodza

UBT International Conference

In North Macedonia there are a large number of masonry structures that built before the existence of the seismic design regulations. Most of the existing masonry structures are single-family houses, in addition there are many public buildings. Within the research, a typological classification of existing masonry structures will be made in order to assess the seismic risk of the selected region. From the existing building fund, the buildings intended for housing are selected for typological classifications. In this context, Debar, Kicevo and Gostivar were selected, which lie on the active fault zones passing through North Macedonia. Seismic risk assessment is …

Dual-Band Printed Monopole Antenna Design, Hassan Ali Ragheb, Shady Abd-Elaal, Afaaf Saad, Ahmed Zaalouk

Electrical Engineering

Design procedure of a high gain dual-band printed monopole antenna, resonating at 2.4 GHz and 5.5 GHz, is presented. The proposed design meets the specifications required by WI-FI, WIMAX and radio frequency identification (RFID) reader applications. Our design utilizes Rogers RT/Duroid 5880(tm) substrate, and the major radiation element is an annular circular patch shape. The design was improved by adding a face-to-face fork shape metal inside the annular circular patch. The antenna feed consists of a microstrip line and a slotted transformer section for matching purpose. A prototype of the proposed antenna was fabricated and the measurements of the return …

Phytoremediation Of Mining Contaminated Soil And Groundwater By Hemp (Cannabis Sativa L.) And Locally Adapted Native Plants, Nathan Carpenter

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Phytoremediation is an environmentally friendly and cost-effective method of using plants to remediate soils and groundwater by extracting and accumulating contaminants in their tissues. Using locally adapted native plants is preferable to non-native species due to native species being accustomed to the environmental conditions allowing for increased plant growth and fitness. It is typical to use hyperaccumulator plant species since they will grow in soils with very high concentrations of metals and metalloids and show efficient ability to recover (phytoextraction potential) and accumulate (bioconcentration factor) the contaminants in its tissues.

This study focuses on using thirteen locally adapted native plant …

Use Of Shotcrete Made With Mine Waste To Reduce Costs And Environmental Impacts Of Waste Disposal, Casey Penney

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Mine waste rock is often recycled for paste and cement backfill in underground cut and fill mining operations. Aggregate in concrete and road surfacing material is another use if the mine waste does not contain deleterious materials that can degrade surface and ground water quality where it is used. Shotcrete usage in mining has been primarily limited to packaged dry mixes from offsite manufacturers. Substituting a manufacturer’s pre-mixed shotcrete with crushed and sized mine waste rock can reduce both the shotcrete cost and the environmental impact of waste disposal operations by reducing the required volume capacity and footprint size required …

Particle Tracking Of A Simulated Melt Pool Of Selective Laser Melting, Prakash Gautam

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

Metal additive manufacturing (AM) produces parts by addition as compared to subtraction of material. Selective laser melting (SLM) is an AM technique that prints objects layer-by-layer, selectively melting powders using a laser. The mechanical properties of SLM parts are affected by processing parameters and powder characteristics, both of which alter the molten melt pool flow field. Marangoni convection (M-flow) is a thermo-capillary mass transfer from a region of lower surface tension to a region of higher surface tension, referred to as a radially outward flow for SLM. However, in the presence of surface-active elements such as oxides and sulfides, the …

Effect Of Global Energy Density On Dynamic Strain Hardening Of Selective Laser Melted Alsi10mg, Md Salah Uddin

Graduate Theses & Non-Theses

The characteristics of strain hardening of selective laser melting (SLM) processed AlSi10Mg under dynamic impact was investigated. The dynamic impact at high strain rate loading conditions occurs in many engineering applications, such as collisions of flying objects on aircraft engine components like bird impact, vehicle collisions, and impacts occur in sports events like club impact on golf balls and helmet impact. Among these various applications, the strength of the materials needs to characterize accurately for product quality, performance, and reliability.

AlSi10Mg is a lightweight metal alloy, and it has a growing demand in aircraft, military, and automotive applications. SLM is …

Electric Drives With Wide Bandgap Devices For Two-Phase Very Low Inductance Machines, Yibin Zhang, Damien Lawhorn, Peng Han, Aaron M. Cramer, Dan M. Ionel

Power and Energy Institute of Kentucky Faculty Publications

Slotless and coreless machines with low inductance and low core losses are attractive for high speed and high power density applications. With the increase in fundamental frequency, typical drive implementations using conventional silicon-based devices are performance limited and also produce large current and torque ripples. This paper presents a systematic study of proposed drive configurations implemented with wide bandgap (WBG) devices in order to mitigate such issues for 2-phase very low inductance machines. Two inverter topologies, i.e., a dual H-bridge inverter with maximum redundancy and survivability and a 3-leg inverter for reduced cost, are considered. Feasible modulation schemes are derived …

Using Schema Training To Facilitate Students' Understanding Of Challenging Engineering Concepts In Heat Transfer And Thermodynamics, Dazhi Yang, Ruth Streveler, Ronald L. Miller, Inanc Senocak, Jim Slotta

Educational Technology Faculty Publications and Presentations

Background: Chi and colleagues have argued that some of the most challenging engineering concepts exhibit properties of emergent systems. However, students often lack a mental framework, or schema, for understanding emergence. Slotta and Chi posited that helping students develop a schema for emergent systems, referred to as schema training, would increase the understanding of challenging concepts exhibiting emergent properties.

Purpose: We tested the effectiveness of schema training and explored the nature of challenging concepts from thermodynamics and heat transfer. We investigated if schema training could (a) repair misconceptions in advanced engineering students and (b) prevent them in beginning engineering students. …

Analysis Of Cloud Bursting On Openstack Infrastructure To Aws, Bao Pham, Ronald C. Jones, Majid Shaalan

Other Student Works

Cloud computing is the development of distributed and parallel computing that seeks to provide a new model of business computing by automating services and efficiently storing proprietary data. Cloud bursting is one of the cloud computing techniques that adopts the hybrid cloud model which seeks to expand the resources of a private cloud through the integration with a public cloud infrastructure. In this paper, the viability of cloud bursting is experimented and an attempt to integrate AWS EC2 onto an Openstack cloud environment using the Openstack OMNI driver is conducted.

Optimal Parameter Values For Accurate And Repeatable Nanoindentation Of Human Trabecular Bone, Stephen Matthew Kmak

Master's Theses

Nanoindentation techniques have not been standardized for use on bone tissues, making comparison of bone material properties obtained via nanoindentation across studies difficult and unreliable. This study determined a set of optimal parameter values for thermal drift correction time, dwell time, and loading rate that can be used to obtain accurate and repeatable material properties from human femoral trabecular bone through experimentation and statistical analysis. All testing was conducted using a single nanoindenter on a single trabeculae, with the assumption that material properties within the individual trabeculae were internally consistent. Parameters not of interest during this study, such as ambient …

Modeling, Simulation, And Testing Of Sweeping Convection, Amir Kiaee

Mechanical Engineering Research Theses and Dissertations

In this study, the new convection heat transfer concept of sweeping convection, using large particles flowing with a fluid in a channel, is considered. This novel concept is inspired by the gas exchange process in alveolar capillaries, where red blood cells (RBCs) flow with blood plasma, yielding very high gas transfer efficiency. An important characteristic of alveolar capillary blood flow, believed to be related to the high efficiency of the lungs, is the snug fitting of the RBCs into the capillaries. This tight fitting sets the RBCs (particles) acting like pistons as they flow downstream with the plasma (fluid), facilitating …

Kentucky Traffic Collision Facts 2019, Eric R. Green, Paul A. Ross, Christopher L. Blackden, Michael A. Fields, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

KENTUCKY’S TRAFFIC COLLISION FACTS report is based on collision reports submitted to the Kentucky State Police Records Branch. As required by Kentucky Revised Statutes 189.635:

“Every law enforcement agency whose officers investigate a vehicle accident of which a report must be made...shall file a report of the accident...within ten days after investigation of the accident upon forms supplied by the bureau.”

The stated purpose of this requirement is to utilize data on traffic collisions for such purposes as will improve the traffic safety program in the Commonwealth.

Cdl Data Quality Assessment, Valerie Keathley-Helil, Mallory Brown, Andrew Martin, Amir E. Najarzadeh, Brian K. Howell, Jennifer R. Walton

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Quality issues related to commercial driver license (CDL) data present ongoing challenges to state and federal transportation agencies. This study highlights several problems with CDL data, including a lack of standardization for state-specific traffic infractions; process and workflow difficulties that degrade the accuracy, validity, and timeliness of data; adjudication procedures that can potentially mask serious violations from CDL driver history records; inadequate recordkeeping in state law enforcement citation and court case management software applications; outdated mainframe systems in urgent need of upgrades; IT personnel who are not paid enough; and insufficient reporting requirements for federal agencies that issue traffic citations. …

Optimal Study Of A High Specific Torque Vernier-Type Axial-Flux Pm Machine With Two Different Stators And A Single Winding, Murat G. Kesgin, Peng Han, Narges Taran, Dan M. Ionel

Power and Energy Institute of Kentucky Faculty Publications

This paper presents the optimal study of a verniertype axial-flux permanent-magnet (AFPM) machine, which has a high-polarity spoke-type PM rotor, a wound stator with a low number of coils, and a profiled stator. Both stators have profiled teeth to enhance the magnetic interaction between the rotor PM array and stator windings for torque production. Compared to the topology with two wound stators, the studied one has a smaller total axial length and is expected more suitable for applications where the space is limited in axial direction. Both topologies are optimized through 3-dimensional (3D) finite element analysis (FEA) by the combined …

Demand Response Of Hvacs In Large Residential Communities Based On Experimental Developments, Huangjie Gong, Evan S. Jones, Rosemary E. Alden, Andrew G. Frye, Donald G. Colliver, Dan M. Ionel

Power and Energy Institute of Kentucky Faculty Publications

Heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems contribute the largest electricity usage for a residential community. Modeling of the HVAC systems facilitate the study of demand response (DR) at both the residential and the power system level. In this paper, the equivalent thermal model of a reference house was proposed. Parameters for the reference house were determined based on the systematic study of experimental data obtained from fully instrumented field demonstrators. The aggregated HVAC load was modeled based on the reference house while considering a realistic distribution of HVAC parameters derived from data that was provided by one of the largest …

Electric Power System Studies For A Multi-Mw Pv Farm And Large Rural Community With Net Zero Energy And Microgrid Capabilities, Evan S. Jones, Oluwaseun M. Akeyo, Keith Waters, Dan M. Ionel

Power and Energy Institute of Kentucky Faculty Publications

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are currently being deployed at an accelerated rate because of their cost-competitiveness and environmental benefits, which make them a prime candidate for local renewable energy generation in communities. Microgrids can help accommodate for the problems that accompany PV systems, such as intermittency due to weather, by coordinating different distributed energy resources (DERs), while islanded or by drawing power from the utility while in grid-connected mode. An islanding option is also important for resilience and grid fault mitigation, even if other DERs are not present within the system. This paper studies the potential benefits that a multi-MW …

Design Optimization Of Coreless Axial-Flux Pm Machines With Litz Wire And Pcb Stator Windings, Murat G. Kesgin, Peng Han, Narges Taran, Damien Lawhorn, Donovin Lewis, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Coreless axial-flux permanent-magnet (AFPM) machines may be attractive options for high-speed and high-power-density applications due to the elimination of core losses. In order to make full use of the advantages offered by these machines and avoid excessive eddy current losses in windings, advanced technologies for winding conductors need to be employed to suppress the eddy effect, such as the Litz wire and printed circuit board (PCB). In this paper, the best practices for designing Litz wire/PCB windings are discussed and a brief survey of state of the art PCB winding technology is provided. Three coreless AFPM machines are mainly considered. …

Analysis Of The Causes Of Workforce Shortages: Create Guidelines For Education And Workforce Development In Transportation To Generate Future Careers For The Navajo Nation, Gholam Ehteshami

Data

Activities were dedicated to the collections, summarizations and categorizing more research articles related to the analysis of the sources of workforce deficiencies. The focus was on the technical and educational solution methods and strategies, guideline relevant to the workforce development. The times also were committed to the development of educational modules related to carrier’s opportunities in the transport industry into a couple of courses. Several NTU STEM students were interviewed, selected and introduced for the summer research internships in transportation areas to LSU Tran SET center. Outreach activities conducted with the community and some of the high school professionals related …

Selecting The Most Feasible Construction Phasing Plans For Urban Highway Rehabilitation Projects, Kunhee Choi Ph.D, H. David Jeong Ph.D, Yong-Cheol Lee, Yangtian Yin

Data

Despite the abundance of research that has aimed to understand the effects of highway work zones, very little definitive information is available concerning the determination of work zone length (WZL). Quantitative studies that holistically model WZL are very rare. To fill this gap, this study identifies critical factors affecting WZL and develops decision support models that determine the optimal WZL in a balanced tradeoff between motorists’ inconvenience due to traffic disruption and their opportunity cost. A high-confidence dataset was created by conducting a series of scheduling and traffic simulations and analyses. The results revealed that traffic loading and work zone …

Development, Education, And Implementation Of A Low-Cost Audio Sensor-Based Autonomous Surveillance System For Smart And Connected Transportation Infrastructure Construction And Maintenance, Yong-Cheol Lee, Jin-Woo Choi Ph.D

Data

Each DOT has to govern and oversee an enormous number of transportation construction and maintenance projects. However, since a transportation construction project entails several miles of a job site including numerous work tasks and equipment operations, it has been increasingly challenging for each DOT to consistently monitor progress of all projects in each State as well as efficiently evaluate work performance. In particular, with limited human resources and time, DOTs in Region 6 States have managed large-scale transportation construction and maintenance projects by a human inspection and recovered direct and indirect damages of transportation infrastructure systems caused from the recent …

Assessment Of Compatibility Of Mineral Aggregates And Binders Used In Highway Construction And Maintenance Projects, Zahid Hossain, Ashraf Elsayed, Tandra Bagchi, Sumon Roy

Data

Stripping and delamination have been deemed as some of the major premature pavement distresses to most state Departments of Transportations (DOTs) and highway agencies including the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT). It is believed that the poor compatibility between asphalt binders and aggregates is one of the major reasons behind this. This study aims to analyze the compatibility of selected asphalt binders and aggregates used in Arkansas. Asphalt binders used in this study include PG 64-22, PG 70-22, and PG 76-22; each prepared from two different crude courses. Additionally, four different types of aggregates (sandstone, limestone, gravel, and dolomite) from …

Seismic Ground Motion Data Analyses For North-East Arkansas, Zahid Hossain Ph.D, Ashraf Elsayed Ph.D, Md Ariful Hasan, Md Rafiue Islam

Data

Estimation of liquefaction resistance and shear velocities are key elements in the assessment of potential earthquake damage of existing and new construction sites. The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) and other agencies in the region need ground motion response analysis (GMRA) data of specific construction sites. As part of a recent ARDOT’s Transportation Research Committee (TRC) project, researchers have conducted geophysical investigations several construction sites in northeast Arkansas over the past twelve years. The current study gathered the previously reported test data and estimated seismic hazard properties such as shear wave velocity profiles and seismic hazard coefficients for nearby locations. …

Bridge Construction Monitoring Using Lidar For Quantified, Objective Quality-Control Quality-Assurance (Qoqcqa), Fernando Moreu Ph.D, Chris Lippitt Ph.D, Xinxing Yuan

Data

Transportation infrastructure construction quality control and quality assurance demands construction monitoring by field inspectors. Currently, these inspectors monitor infrastructure by measuring and photographing structures. These tasks allow them to assess any correction decision during construction or to inform about the quality of the construction process for the future. In order to promote and objective decisions obtained during infrastructure construction, the proposed research project developed and implemented a methodology to measure construction progress and compared it with the designed 3D shape, quantifying the difference. This proposed project includes implementation for the development of DOT standards that could be added in near …

Secure High Der Penetration Power Distribution Via Autonomously Coordinated Volt/Var Control, Anto Joseph, Keyue Smedley, Shahab Mehraeen

Faculty Publications

Traditionally voltage control in distribution power system (DPS) is performed through voltage regulating devices (VRDs) including on load tap changers (OLTCs), step voltage regulators (SVRs), and switched capacitor banks (SCBs). The recent IEEE 1547-2018 from March 2018 requires inverter fed distributed energy resources (DERs) to contribute reactive power to support the grid voltage. To accommodate VAR from DERs, well-organized control algorithm is required to use in this mode to avoid grid oscillations and unintended switching operations of VRDs. This paper presents two voltage control strategies (i) static voltage control considering voltage-reactive power mode (IEEE 1547-2018), (ii) dynamic and extensive voltage …

Real-Time Work Zone Traffic Management Via Unmanned Air Vehicles, Charles Malveaux Ph.D, Marcio De Queiroz Ph.D, Xin Li Ph.D, Hanny Hassan Ph.D, Zewei He Ph.D

Data

Highway work zones are prone to traffic accidents when congestion and queues develop. Vehicle queues expand at a rate of 1 mile every 2 minutes. Back-of-queue, rear-end crashes are the most common work zone crash, endangering the safety of motorists, passengers, and construction workers. The dynamic nature of queuing in the proximity of highway work zones necessitates traffic management solutions that can monitor and intervene in real time. Fortunately, recent progress in sensor technology, embedded systems, and wireless communication coupled to lower costs are now enabling the development of real-time, automated, “intelligent” traffic management systems that address this problem. The …

Life Cycle Environmental Impact Of Houston Metro System – Evaluation Of Electric Alternatives, Raghava R. Kommalapati Ph.D, Hongbo Du Ph.D, Doeun Choe Ph.D

Publications

In the Greater Houston Area, mobile sources (on-and off-road vehicles) contribute the largest share of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and second-highest share of volatile organic (VOC) emissions. The Houston METRO system is a key element in Houston's infrastructure that can be expanded to lower emissions of criteria air pollutants (CAPs) and greenhouse gases (GHGs) and improve regional air quality. Currently, there is no comparative study for relative emissions and environmental impacts between passenger automobiles and METRO routes in Houston. Our research addressed this critical gap and developed environmental life cycle assessment for conventional diesel buses, diesel hybrid buses, and alternative …

Life Cycle Environmental Impact Of Houston Metro System – Evaluation Of Electric Alternatives, Raghava R. Kommalapati Ph.D, Hongbo Du Ph.D, Doeun Choe Ph.D

Data

In the Greater Houston Area, mobile sources (on- and off-road vehicles) contribute the highest share of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions and second-highest share of volatile organic (VOC) emissions. The Houston METRO system is a key element in Houston's infrastructure that can be expanded to lower emissions of criteria air pollutants (CAPs) and greenhouse gases (GHGs) and improve regional air quality. Currently, there is no comparative study for relative emissions and environmental impacts between passenger automobiles and METRO routes in Houston. Our research addressed this critical gap and developed environmental life cycle assessment for conventional diesel buses, diesel hybrid buses, and …